Calculating machine



Oct. 6, 1936. L. J. SAMPSON 2,056,536

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1934 1 llllllllllllllllllmn. I

4 43 INVENTOR :5 [Jerry J. Scan 05017 flL/ZZ/ M ,V

' ATTOR N EYS Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cspoumrmo MACHINE Application Juli 11, 1934, Serial No. 734,570

4 Claims. (01. 235-350) This invention relates to a calculating machine. It is directed primarily to the provision of an improved, construction for counting predetermined items entered in said machine.

5 Item counters have heretofore been produced which cperate to count certain items entered in a machine, but they are usually distinct counters that are added to the calculating machine for the express purpose of counting items. They constitute special additions or attachments to the regular mechanism.

The present invention concerns an improvement that enables one of the regular registers to be used for item counting purposes by a few simple changes and without the addition of special counting mechanism.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved itemcounting construction for calculating machines.

A more particular object is to provide a construction whereby a regular register of a calculating machine may be used for item counting purposes.

A further object is to provide an item counting construction in which the item counter may be charged with a given number at the same time that an item is entered in the machine.

' Other and more particular objects will appear from the following specification and drawing.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which;

Figure 1 is a partial right sectional elevation of a machine with the invention applied thereto, the parts being shown in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a separated perspective of four banks or columns of the machine with the invention applied thereto.

The invention is shown applied to a Burroughs Class 4 duplex calculating machine whose 'con- 40 struction is well known as the machine has been on the market for a number of years. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be used on other calculating machines and the embodiment illustrated herein is merely by 4 way of example.

General features of machine The machine is provided with a plurality of Theactuator racks move to differential positions which are determined by item entering devices comprising depressible amount keys I3. The stems I4 of these keys project into the paths of lugs IS on the bars l0. After the keys have 5 been depressed, the machine is given a cycle of operation during which the actuator racks are released for movement to differential positions. In some machines the racks are moved to diifer ential positions by hand as in a lever-set machine, or their position may be determined by stop pins set up in a ten key machine or by means of devices controlled by perforated cards. The invention is equally effective with any of these different constructions for determining the 15 positions of the racks. The actuator racks and the devices for controlling their diflerential positions constitute what will be called amount determining differential devices."

The rack plates II and I! are slidably mount- 80 ed by a pin and slot connection on their respective bars l0 and each is urged by a spring I8 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1.

An upper register carried by the shaft 20 an a lower register carried by the shaft 2| are as- 26 sociated with the actuator racks. The racks and registers are mounted to enable a relative movement to'occur between them for engagement and disengagement. Inthis case the registers are moved to and fgom the racks as will be later de- 30 scribed.

Suitable control keys are provided including keys for placing either or both registers in nonadd condition and for taking a total or sub-total from either register. It is possible to take a 8 total from one register while the other remains in add condition so that the total in one is transferred to the other, but it has not been considered necessary to show these controls in the present case.

'Ihe machine is also provided with a suitable P per carriage and a printing mechanism with provisions for splitting the same at desired p The machine is given cycles of operation by a handle or motor, but it has not been considered necessary to illustrate any of these parts.

Suitable carriage controls are provided so that, in certain columnar positions of the carriase, either or both of the registers may be conditioned for addition or for non-adding.

when the machine is given a cycle of operation after the amount keys have been depressed,

the actuator racks are released for movement to diiferential positions which are determined by the depressed amount keys. After these racks have been positioned either or both of the regis- Lower register Thelower register comprises a plurality of register pinions 22 mounted loosely on the shaft 2i. This shaft is carried by arms 23 journaled on a shaft 24 supported by the frame plates of the machine. The free ends of the arms are joined by a cross member 25 which, together with the arms 23 forms a,- register supporting frame. The register frame is urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 by a spring '25 so that the lower register is urged out of engagement with ,the actuator racks. The register is, however, normally held in, engagement with the racks by means of a cam arm 21 pivoted at 2B and provided with a hooked end 29 engaging under a stud 30 on an arm 3i which is integral with one of the side arms 23 of the register frame. In addition, as the machine starts to operate, the cam arm 27 is rocked counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, to release the stud 30 whereupon the spring 25 moves the register out of engagement with the racks before they start to" move. After the racks have been differentially positioned, the cam arm 27 is returned clockwise and its cam end engages the stud 5E! and moves the arm 3| counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 to engage the register with the racks prior to the restoration of the latter to normal. The movements of the cam arm 27 'arecontrolled by a non-add key,v a total key and the paper carriage, but since these controls are known, they will not be described.

Tens transfer mechanism Except as hereinafter described, the tens transfer mechanism for the upper and lower registers is the same and the description will be confined to one, namely, the tens transfer mechanism for the lower register. a

Each of the rack plates II and I2, except those in the units order, is provided with a. stud 40 adapted to be engaged by the nose of a pawl 4i. As previously explained, these rack plates are urged to the right' as viewed in Fig, 1 by the springs it. But the pawls Q! are positioned so that, when the parts are in the normal position from their extreme right hand position .relative to the bars l0. As the actuator racks are moved v the pawls di and, if these pawls are held in the positions shown in Fig. l, the racks, are arrested one step short of their extreme right hand position. The bars in continue-to the full extent of their movement.

The tens transfer is controlled by controlling the pawls fill, that is, the pawl 4! that engages the stud .56 of a rack in a. particular order is controlled by the pinion of next lower order and the arrangement is such that. if a tens transfer of Fig. 1, the rack plates are held one step awa'y is to occur in a particular order, the pawl for the next higher order is released so that its rack can continue to the full extent of its right hand movement and cause an extra step of movement of its register pinion.

For the purpose of controllingvthe tens transfer pawls ll each pinion of the registering machanism is provided witha snail cam 62 (Fig. 2) adapted to cooperate with a lateral lug 33 on a latch it pivoted at ,65. The other end of this latch has a lateral lug t6 engaging over a shoulder :1? on the lower end of the pawl ii.

When the register pinion of a given order moves from its 9 to, or through, its position, the snail cam 62 for that pinion trips its latch l l, that is, moves it clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. This moves lug d forwardly and releases the'pawl 6! of the next higher order for movement in a clockwise direction. The result is that, when the rack of the next higher order is restored to its normal position, the pawl M for that order'no longer blocks the rack plate l2 and the rack plate moves an extra step to cause a tens transfer.

This construction is duplicated between each of the orders of the registering mechanism and no further description seems necessary. It is to be understood that a suitable restoring mechanism is provided for restoring the parts to normal.

Upper registering mechanism The upper registering mechanism is 'similar to the lower register. It comprises a plurality of register pinions 50 mounted on the shaft carried by arms 5! joined by cross bar 52 form ing a register frame pivoted on the shaft 53. This register frame is normally urged counterclockwise in' Fig. 1 by a. spring 54 that is connected to an arm 55 integral with one of the side arms 5! of the register frame. The register is thus urged out of engagement with the actuator racks. It is normally held in engagement, however, by a cam arm 56 engaging over a stud. 51 on the arm 55.

In adding operations, as the machine starts to operate, the cam plate 56 is moved counterclockwise from its position in Fig. 1 which releases the upper register so that it is moved out of engagement with the actuator racks by the spring 54. The racks are then difierentially positioned after which the cam 56 is moved clock- -wise to cam the register into engagement with the racks prior to their return to normal.

The tens transfer mechanism for the upper register is exactly like that for, the lower register except as hereinafter described;

I; Item counting mechanism In the embodiment shown the upper registering mechanism is used as an item counting register and certain modifications are made in it as follows:

The pinions of the upper registering mechanism are divided into two groups, those on the left hand side, viewing the machine from 'the front, being used to accumulate or count the items, and those on the right being used to effect the counting. The'number of pinions in each group may be varied to suit the requirements. Usually the first two or three pinions on the left are used for item counting and the remaining six or seven pinions on the right are employed to effect the item counting. .In Fig. 2 of the drawing only four of the register pinions have been illustrated and, in this figure, the two pinions on the left count the items while the two pinions on the right eflect the item counting, the other pinions having been omitted to avoid confusion.

The pinions of the left hand group have a tens transfer mechanism associated with them exactly like that heretofore described so that a transfer occurs from one order to the other when the pinion of a given order passes from its 9 to or through its 0 position. These register pinions cooperate with the rack bars of their orders and suitable banks of keys are provided to control the racks in the usual manner.

The right hand section of the registering mechanism is modified to adapt the registering mechanism for item counting. Instead of having a snail cam associated with each register pinion to effect a tens carry, a ten-tooth disk 60 is associated with each register pinion. These disks cooperate with the lateral lugs 43 of the transfer latches 44 heretofore described. With this arrangement, whenever any of the pinions of the right .hand section move a single step, the corresponding transfer pawl M is tripped so as to cause a transfer into the next higher order. The transfer into the next higher order causes one step of movement of the next higher order pinion and the disk 60 for that pinion then causes a transfer to the next higher pinion, and so on across the entire right hand group of register pinions. The transfer from the left hand pinion of the right hand group causes the right hand pinion of the left hand group to move a step, but the left hand group has the regular tens transfer mechanism associated with it and hence this one step of movement of the right hand pinion of the left hand group does not cause a tens transfer but merely enters a unit in the item counting section of the registering mechanism.

It will be immediately appreciated that the substitution of the disks 60* for the snail cams in the right hand group of register pinions very great and quite unexpected. They enable the upper registering mechanism to be used for For example, no matter what the amount of an item is, the item counter will be moved only one unit for that particular item. The item may be one cent, or it may be a multiple digit figur such as $1,264.75.

If the item is one cent, the rack, in the cents order moves one step. This causes the units pinion to move a step and the movement of this pinion causes a transfer across all the pinions of the right hand group and the entry of one uni into the left hand group.

If the item is $1,264.75, a rack moves in-each of the item entering banks and the racks move different extents. But only one unit is transferred from the right hand group of pinions to the left group because, as soon as the transfer mechanism operates, it remains in its operated condition and cannot be operated a second time during that cycle of machine' operation. It must be restored before another unit can be transmitted.

The entry of this. unit in the item counter occurs at the same time that the item is being entered in the lower register and requires no attention on the part of the operator. All that he needs to do is enter the item in the machine.

If a plurality of items are entered and it is desired to count each one of them, the upper registering mechanism is moved into engagement,

manually by the depression of a key or any other I manipulative member.

When a total is taken from the lower register the upper registering mechanism cannot be engaged with the racks so that no item is counted during a total taking operation from the lower register.

If it is desired to charge the item counter with a given number before starting operations, this can be doneby entering the amount on the keys of the left hand banks. The operator need not give the machine a stroke of operation for charging the item counter. 'He can go right ahead and enter the item that is to go into the lower register. Then, during the cycle of operation of the machine, the item counter will be charged with the number that has been entered on the keys of its orders, the items to be entered in the lower register will be simultaneously added to the latter, and while this is taking place, the item entered in the lower register is counted by reason of the fact that the right hand group of pinions of the upper registering mechanism will cause a. unit to be introduced into the item counter. In other words, the item counter can be charged and an item can be simultaneously entered in the machine and counted.

When it is desired to print the amount in the item counter and clear it, a total is taken from,

the upper registering mechanism. It will be apparent that the pinions of the right hand group of the upper registering mechanism will prevent any movement of the actuator racks during total taking and hence the type bars for these orders remain in zero position. In order to prevent the printing of zeros to the right of the left hand or item counter orders, the printing mechanism is split between the left and right hand groups of pinions of the upper register. The item counter can be cleared without printing by blocking the printing mechanism.

When it is desired to print the amount in the item counter and to leave said amount in the counter, a sub-total is taken from the upper registering mechanism.

It is to be understood that the construction shown is for purposes of illustration only and that variations may be made in it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention mined number of orders of said registering mechanism for causing a unit to be entered in the remaining portion of said registering mechanism when any of said predetermined orders of said 75 registering mechanism is, moved, a, single unit only being entered irrespective of which or how many of said predetermined orders of said registering mechanism is moved and the amount of its or their movement.

2. A calculating machine having a plurality of actuator racks, means for limiting the movement of said racks in differential positions in accordance with items entered in the machine, a registering mechanism adapted to engage and disengage said racks, said registering mechanism. having a plurality of pinions corresponding to said racks, which pinions are divided into two groups, means for engaging and disengaging said registering mechanism and racks, and means operable by one group of pinions causing a unit to be entered in the other group whenever any of the pinions of the first grouptare moved, a single unit only being entered irrespective of which pinion or pinions of the first group is moved and the extent of its or their movement.

3. A calculating machine having a plurality of actuator racks, item entering means for limiting the movement of said racks in differential positions, a registering mechanism adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from said racks, said registering'mechanism having a plurality of pinions divided into two groups, a tens-transfer mechanism associated with one group of said pinions,

and a transfer mechanism associated with the other group of said pinions arranged f0r opera-= tion on'one step of movement of each ofsaid pinions whereby, when said registering mechanism is engaged with said racks, the movement of any or all of the racks associated with said second group of pinions will cause aunit to be entered in the first group of pinions irrespective of the extent of movement of said racks.

4. A calculating machine having a plurality of actuator racks, item entering means for limiting the movement of said racks in differential positions, a. register associated with said racks to receive the items, a registering mechanism associated with said racks, said registering mechanism having a plurality of register pinions divided into two groups, a tens-transfer mechanism associated with the pinions of one group, a transfer mechanism associated with the pinions of the other group which pinions cooperate with the racks employed for item entering, said transfer mechanism being adapted to operate for each step of movement of any pinion of its group whereby, when an item is entered in said register, a unit will be entered in said first group of pinions of said registering mechanism irrespective of what the item may be.- t o LEROY J. SAMPSON 

